Chapter Fifteen - Owls and the Mole

The first thing Snape did when he was safely alone at Hogwarts was to destroy the scrap of paper he had concealed in his chambers ever since the day he had searched Celeste's sixth-floor room. If any suspicions of Celeste remained in his mind, Snape had already relegated them to the archives of his memory.

They had much to talk over during the next few days. Snape had started to calm down after the heated exchange about children. He admitted his personality was not ideal for teaching, but there was nothing else he wanted to do. In his final year at school he had entertained the idea of becoming a Healer, but he felt he was no more a natural physician than he was a teacher. He was, like his father, a skilled maker of potions, but he didn't particularly want that to be his sole occupation. Most of all, he wanted to know what Celeste's wants and needs were if they were to have children.

Celeste explained that if they really were to have a family, she wanted to start fairly soon. "I will be thirty next year" she said. "I know that's not old for a witch but I don't want to make too late a start. So we have got to get this sorted out!"

She hoped for between two and four children, boys and girls. If they had children, and she reminded Snape it was still very much an IF – she wanted to return to work as soon as possible – either to teaching or to some form of administrative job at Hogwarts. She didn't want to raise their babies in the castle dungeons because the rooms were very cold and lacked natural light. She hoped that if they were to be parents they would have a home of their own as soon as possible and certainly by the time any children were of school age. She was prepared to live in a cottage in Hogsmeade. She would like to have a house-elf or elves, but they must not be slaves – they must be paid for their labour and have proper clothes.

"I think we may soon outgrow a cottage" Snape said. "What I would really like is a manor house in the style of my parent's home – a traditional house of brick, with spacious rooms, flagstone floors and exposed beams."

"That sounds wonderful, but is there such a house?" Celeste wondered. "We don't want to be miles from Hogwarts do we."

"Remember, I'll have one built if necessary!" Snape said determinedly. "If you are agreeable. And we will have house-elves – free, since you insist. I was also wondering if you would like a motor car. If we live on the far side of Hogsmeade it should be no problem. I am quite taken with the idea of being driven around the countryside during the holidays. After all, with an army of house-elves to take care of the housework you'll have nothing else to do but to entertain me!"

"Hmmm" Celeste observed shrewdly. "I can see you've recovered your composure about all of this. Of course I could spend some of my supposed excess leisure time, teaching you to drive!"

"Oh, I think not" Snape countered quickly. "These Muggle devices are not for me." Privately Snape determined never to try to drive a car. Celeste was obviously a good driver, so much so that he was not likely to better her. He would not put himself in the position of being second best. He decided a change of subject was called for and asked "Where shall we spend our honeymoon? Have you any thoughts on where you would like to go?"

"No, I haven't really" she said at length. She smiled a bashful smile. "I just want us to set up home together as soon as possible."

Sitting beside her on the Chesterfield, Snape took her hand in both of his, stroking the slim, brown fingers. "At the end of the wedding reception we will be expected to depart on a honeymoon" he pointed out. "If only for a few days. It's tradition."

"You are a stickler for tradition, aren't you!" she remarked. Giving the matter more thought finally she said "I have two suggestions. How about visiting a beautiful old city – Prague for example? Or, how about having a couple of days just idling about in lovely countryside somewhere really quiet? We could rent a cottage in the hills of Portugal and spend our days in the sun and by the sea."

Snape pondered this. "As it happens, I like both of those ideas" he said. "I have never thought in these terms. My world has been Hogwarts and Diagon Alley. And the menace of the Dark Lord. I need to think this over for a day or so. Can you give me a little time?"

"Of course! It was your suggestion anyway" Celeste pointed out. "I'm quite content to stay at Hogwarts. I suppose you're right though; we can't. There will be a point when we depart and everyone else parties on. And that reminds me – music. I know you don't like modern music, but I think we will need to have some. The party's not just for us, really. You can't expect students to be able to dance minuets and gavottes. People of Minerva's age seem to be happy with music from the thirties to the fifties, and Uncle Albus dances to anything, but we do need some modern music."

"Yes, indeed I suppose we do" Snape agreed sadly. "Although, it's our wedding, not theirs! But you're right, I can see that. We'll draw up a list; then we'll know if we've got a good balance of the traditional and the popular. Felix might have some ideas about who we can get to play for us. And we need to think about music for the service, to enter and leave by; and perhaps something for while we are signing the register." He bent his head and kissed her hands. "We need to speak to Albus" he said. "Explain our situation – our marriage plans, and the possibility of setting up home. I – I know we are not certain about parenthood, but can we talk as though we are planning to have children eventually? Do you mind?"

"Why?" she asked, surprised.

"Well, it would mean moving out of Hogwarts, and Albus should be prepared for that" Snape said. "I'm sure he'll be sympathetic."

Albus Dumbledore was more than sympathetic, he was delighted for them. "Well, well" he said, conspiratorially, "it never rains but it pours! I'm telling you this in strict confidence. Madeline and Sirius are planning to marry in the summer. They are going to live in Hogsmeade. Minerva and I are the only ones who know at the moment so please do not say anything about it yet. Just keep the news between the four of you."

Dumbledore understood that they would need a home of their own once their family was underway, and he understood about Celeste's need to put her teaching career on hold.

"I will soon be advertising for a replacement for Professor Vector for next year" he said. "I suppose you won't be applying. Never mind. Perhaps some opportunity will present itself when you are ready. Who knows?"

Celeste impressed upon Dumbledore that she had not yet broken the news to her parents and she did not want them to hear it from anyone else until she had been able to speak to them. Privately she suspected that her mother might not take it well.

Celeste decided to travel home alone to let her parents know. She owled them to say that she had met a wizard who had become 'very important' to her and she had 'big hopes for the future' which she wanted to discuss in private. "Ah-ha! I do believe this sounds like an engagement or something of the sort" her mother replied. "How about you spending the whole day with us on Saturday 10th April? Start out after breakfast and stay for dinner. Your timed Portkey is enclosed – let me know if you need it changed."

Celeste breakfasted early on the Saturday and was soon gone. Snape felt at a loss without her but he respected her wish to go alone. It also gave him the opportunity to attend to two very important pieces of business. As soon as she had flown off to Hogsmeade, he went in search of Hooch.

"I want to ask a favour, Madeline" he said. There was a note of urgency in his voice and an unusual degree of frankness. "It's really important. Please … don't laugh."

"You've gotta damned cheek, asking a favour" she replied. "You weren't particularly warm to Sirius the other day when you were supposed to be congratulating him."

"Well, he was equally off-hand with me" Snape said, sounding hurt.

This was true. They were both as bad as each other. "Oh, I could knock your heads together sometimes" Hooch moaned. "You're worse than a couple of kids. OK. Whadderyer want?"

Snape took a breath. She noticed that he looked slightly nervous. "Well" he said, "as you know Celeste and I are planning to marry in August. It's going to be very traditional – a ceremony in London and then back here for the reception. Eats, and drinks and … you know the drill."

"Yes, go on. You make it sound like I make weddings my hobby" she grumbled.

"Well, it's traditional for the bride and groom to open the dancing" Snape pointed out.

"Yes. So?" she added, wishing he would get to the point.

"Well, I don't dance, do I!" he said despairingly. "Come on, Maddie – you know I don't."

"Well what do you expect me to do about it" she snapped. "Take a turn round the floor in your place?"

"No, you exasperating woman! I want you to teach me to dance!" he pleaded.

"What?" she gasped. "You've gotta be joking! Take a potion! Use a charm!"

"This is not the Yule Bloody Ball!" Snape raged. "This is my wed–" He stopped abruptly, aware of the hurt look on Hooch's face. It suddenly occurred to him that he had never put himself out for anyone else, yet here he was asking a favour of someone, who, despite her better judgement, liked him – someone he was happy to tease, but had never even bothered to ask to dance in all the years they had worked together. Why oh why did I shout at Maddie, he wondered. I always make a mess of considering other people's feelings. She can hardly be expected to help me now. "Please forgive me, Madeline" he whispered remorsefully. "It's just that I am not convinced that a charm would be successful in my case, and I most certainly do not trust any potion to be able to remedy my woeful terpsichorean deficit. Do you?"

Hooch was taken aback to receive an apology and she could tell from his contrite tone that he was absolutely serious. He would unhesitatingly have advised a charm or a potion for anyone else, but for himself he required far more certainty of success. As he once again requested her expert and discrete help, Hooch realised how much Snape longed for his wedding to be perfect – he didn't want anything to spoil Celeste's day.

"You must really love her" she said at last. "Ok. OK! But it's NOT going to be a secret. Not from Sirius, and not from Celeste. Nope. No. It's no good, Severus" she insisted, overriding his entreaties. "If you want me to do this, we must let them know. What would they think if they caught us dancing together. In secret. Use your common sense!"

Having finally talked Hooch into agreement, Snape then went to the black iron coat stand in his sitting room and removed the central finial, inside of which he had stowed Fabien Lavelle's business card. He consulted the atlas in the library, and then at twenty-five minutes to eleven he took a broom to Hogsmeade and Disapparated from the Broom Park to the Priory's grid reference, Apparating in an orchard. The Priory itself – a grey, gothic stone building – was quite close by. At the incongruously modern visitors' entrance he found a young Friar sitting at a reception desk.

Feeling slightly uneasy, Snape said "Good morning. I should like to see Fabien Lavelle."

"Do you have an appointment, sir?" the young Friar asked. "No? One moment please, I'll see if he is free." He phoned through to Fabien's office but there was no reply. "Ah, he's not there. Please take a seat and I will try to find him for you."

Snape waited patiently, sitting very upright in the visitor's chair. A taxi rattled up to the entrance as the young Friar tried more extension numbers. Carrying a black briefcase, a harassed looking Friar bustled through the reception area, on his way out to it, and the young Friar called to him as he hurried past. "Cuthbert, do you know where Fabien is?"

"Err, try the Novice Master's Office" Cuthbert called back. "Sorry; can't stop."

It seemed Fabien was in the Novice Master Office because after speaking to someone on the telephone, the young Friar said to Snape "Brother Fabien will be with you shortly, sir" and a few moments later Fabien arrived. Snape rose to his feet as Fabien approached and shook the hand that was cordially extended.

"Come and have some coffee" Fabien said, and conducted Snape to his office.

"Coffee?" he asked motioning Snape to an armchair.

Snape said he would prefer tea if possible, and Fabien spoke to a novice attendant to request the refreshments. He then took the armchair opposite to Snape and said "Now, what can I do for you, err, Severus isn't it."

"You know my name."

"Celeste has spoken of you" Fabien replied. "And I know she has gone home to speak to her parents about a matter of importance. Your visit and hers – do they have related causes?"

"Yes" Snape said, resisting the urge to growl 'Very well, you tell me what I've come here about, since you know so much'. "Celeste and I are planning to marry in August" he explained. "It will be a civil ceremony at the Ministry of Magic state rooms. I don't know if you are familiar with the service."

"Only to a small degree. I attended my brother's wedding and I have been to, I think it is, two others over the years."

"Then perhaps you remember that during the signing of the register there is the opportunity for a song or a piece of music."

"Yes, I believe I do remember. Ah, here is the tea. Thank you, Aidan."

He handed Snape a cup of tea and sipped his coffee. "Yes, carry on" he said to Snape.

"I was wondering if you would, err, sing for us. Sing at our wedding" Snape explained.

"I? I should be delighted" Fabien boomed. "If I can. When is the wedding to be?"

"We haven't finally fixed the date but it is likely to be Saturday 14th August."

"Let me see." Fabien got up and brought over his diary and fountain pen. "Yes, yes. I will need to get permission, but that date should be possible." He made a careful note. "Do you have any particular piece of music in mind?"

"I do, yes" Snape replied. "The baritone solo Omnia sol temperat from Carmina Burana."

"Ah yes. Sunshine Overrules the World" Fabien smiled. "That is one of Celeste's most favourite pieces!" Snape explained that they had recently attended a performance in London. "Ah, did Celeste block her ears when they came to the Roast Swan Song?" Fabien asked. "She always used to do so. (Slightly ashamed, Snape had to admit he didn't know.) Yes, well anyway – I will be delighted to sing that song. Does Celeste know about this? What if she has planned something else?"

"That is the point" Snape said awkwardly. "I want this to be your suggestion, not mine. Can you … can you simply offer to do this?"

"But why?" Fabien asked. "Why can you not say you have asked me to sing? Celeste will be delighted. I'm sure she will."

"Because I am not supposed to know of your existence" Snape said bitterly. "All that she has ever told me about you is that her father has a twin brother called Fabien. That's all! … I do not want Celeste to know I followed her that night."

"Ah, I see" Fabien said. "Is it really that important that she doesn't know?" Snape assured him it was. "You are asking me to lie" Fabien pointed out. "I do not want to do that. It not only seems wrong to me, I also find it usually complicates matters."

"Then, I am sorry I troubled you" Snape replied civilly. "Can you please treat this conversation as not having taken place?"

"Yes, I can certainly do that" Fabien agreed.

"Thank you" Snape said. "I trust I can rely on that. And, as I say, I am sorry I troubled you." He drained his teacup and got up to leave.

"Oh, don't worry about that. It didn't hurt to ask. And to be perfectly honest I'm grateful for any interruption to this paperwork" Fabien said, waving a hand at his littered desk. "Um, Severus … I'll think it over; but I'm not making any promises. If I can see a way to do this, I'll owl Celeste. Otherwise, can I owl you? Or would it be more discrete to write to you, care of Albus?"

Snape considered. "Um, via the Headmaster, I think" he replied. "I never get letters, and Celeste always sits with me at breakfast. I suppose if I should need to contact you, it must be by Mugg – err conventional post"

"Muggle post?" Fabien beamed. "Oh no; not unless you want to. You can owl me." Seeing Snape's look of astonishment, he added. "I may be a Muggle but I have my own owl, and I'm used to getting owls from my Brother and Sister-in-law. Don't forget, Aurora's quite a witch! Perhaps you haven't met her yet."

"No, not yet" Snape said. "Well, thank you again, Fabien. Good bye."

"Goodbye Severus, and congratulations" Fabien said, pumping his hand vigorously. He then summoned Aidan who escorted Snape to the main entrance.

The Head of Slytherin was back at Hogwarts in time for lunch. He decided that on balance he was feeling pleased. His dancing lessons were organised and Fabien just might sing for them – the Friar had probably been thrown off balance by the unexpected request; once he had time to mull it over he might find he could say yes.

Strolling in the large garden at her parents island home, the legs of he narrow black trousers wet with dew, Celeste explained about her marriage plans and described her fiancé – what he was, what he had been, his strengths, his faults, his personal circumstances. She tried to be honest and not to sound too starry eyed, but she couldn't help speaking at some length about Snape's Order of Merlin and the part he had played in combating the plague. She also told of how Snape had helped her to get over her despair about the death of the Wilson twins, and the hilarious incident when he thought she was drowning.

On hearing that, Celeste's mother smiled. At the island Celeste kept a small boat and whenever the weather allowed she was often to be found on or in the sea, sailing and swimming. Aurora also knew of her daughter's particular fondness for dosing in warm, calm water. She was however not at all pleased to learn that her only daughter was planning to marry a former Death Eater. Nothing Celeste could say about Snape's heroic part in the downfall of Voldemort, nor accounts of any subsequent noble actions would make her change her opinion. But she was fascinated to learn that he was 'the Death Eater Mole'.

"So he was the double agent" she said. "As I was leaving the service a whisper had started up amongst the Aurors. The faintest rumour of the likelihood of a Mole – a deep under cover spy. Nothing was ever actually known; it was ultra hush-hush. But certain events pointed to the possibility of a Mole amongst the Death Eaters. Albus was paranoid about not blowing the Mole's cover – the slightest breath of suspicion and he would be finished, you see. Zapped! History! No question. No one envied the Mole his job! At least the Aurors had the comradeship of being part of a team, and didn't have to live in a state of total deception."

"And knowing all that, you can still never accept him?" Celeste asked sadly, absentmindedly wiping mud off her black shoes onto the edge of a rock. "What does he have to do to atone for being a Death Eater?"

"Celeste, he cannot atone for being a Death Eater" Aurora Lavelle said simply. "Don't misunderstand me. I'm not pretending anything. I have made it clear to you that I have killed people in the course of my work. I'm not proud of it, but I'm not ashamed of it either. I brought them in alive as often as possible, but I openly admit I have, on occasions, resorted to the ultimate sanction. Aurors are ruthless. But Death Eaters are evil. That's the difference. Death Eaters, by being what they are, lay bare their evil nature. Those that remain Death Eaters are proud of their nature; those that repent are not proud of it, but it remains their nature nevertheless."

A silence fell. Finally Aurora Lavelle continued. "If you are determined to marry this wizard I cannot stop you, and yes, I will come to your wedding, and no, I won't make a scene. Of course I won't. And I will try always to be civil to your husband. But don't ever expect me to trust Severus Snape. I'm sorry, but that's how it is."

Celeste's father was a little more sympathetic. He said he would meet Snape and, since it seemed this match was to be permanent, he would make every effort to be on good terms with him. It was potentially a stressful situation for Lucien Lavelle, having been a victim of Death Eater torture; but for Celeste's sake he was prepared to try.

So Celeste returned to Hogwarts rather sad but still resolute in her plans. She was not totally convinced by her mother's distinction between ruthlessness and evil – it may be an accurate distinction she conceded, but some evil people may be able to masquerade as ruthless in the cause of right. She wouldn't put her mother in that category but she felt the distinction was too neat to be always valid.

Celeste was due to arrive at Hogsmeade at nine thirty and Snape waited for her at the castle's West Door. And suddenly there she was at nine forty-one, her firm footsteps smacking along the path from the broomshed, her cloak swinging about the Cuban heels of her black shoes. She had dined at home and Snape had dined in the Great Hall, so they sat in his sitting room talking over the day's events, because Snape was anxious to hear whether her trip home had gone well. He also had to admit about his dancing lessons.

"My parents want to see us soon, and they suggested early in the summer holidays – they know we are busy until then" Celeste said. "How about if we go on the first Sunday in July? They suggest we leave Hogwarts just after breakfast and spend the day with them, staying for dinner. What do you think?"

"Yes, excellent. I, err, hope they approve of me" Snape said hesitantly.

"Oh, I'm sure you'll impress them" Celeste replied.

The following morning at breakfast a tawny owl swooped in with a white envelope for Celeste. It contained a letter written in fountain pen.

"It's from Uncle Fabien" she cried. "I thought that was his owl. Oh, wow! Oh, I wonder if you'll agree to this. Listen…" and excitedly she read the letter to Snape.

Dear Celeste,

Your mother told me of your forthcoming wedding and I send you my heartiest congratulations. I hope the poor wizard concerned understands what he is letting himself in for. ('Pshaw! He doesn't know you, does he!' she said to Snape.) I don't know if you have chosen the music for the ceremony yet, but if you 'have a free slot'- is that the term? – I would be happy to sing something.

If you find this an agreeable idea, please let me know what you would like. In case you are scratching your head for ideas, might I suggest Omnia Sol Temperat from Carmina?

But if you have already chosen all the music, I will not be offended if you cannot fit me in. I should in any event like to attend the ceremony. Father Anthony has given his permission.

My love to you both.

Your,

Uncle Fabien

"Omnia sol temperat. How do you feel about your uncle singing that while we sign the register?" Snape suggested, trying to sound as though the idea was new to him.

"Are you sure, Severus?" Celeste said excitedly. "I would love it. Erm, Uncle Fabien – you'll probably find this a bit strange – he is a Friar. A Dominican Friar. He has a very good voice – he is in the Priory choir. Are you sure you don't mind about this?"

"I have no doubt it will be quite magnificent" Snape assured her. "Why not let him know as soon as possible – if you're sure it's what you want."

Celeste needed no further prompting. She pulled her blue pen out of her pocket and wrote a grateful reply on the back of Fabien's letter. She also confirmed the likely date of the wedding "Just in case Mother didn't make that clear" she added to Snape, "although I expect she did. As you can see, the jungle drums have been busy already!"

Late that evening Celeste went to the owlery to send the letter, and the following morning at breakfast the same school owl brought her a further note from Fabien, written in fountain pen beneath her message, confirming the final arrangements. 'Muggle' Fabien kept the owl and reused it, Snape realised.

As the week progressed, Celeste made a start on helping Snape to examine his teaching technique. She felt this was about as safe as poking a stick into a sleeping dragon's eye, and she actually admitted as much to Snape. However, she had made up her mind that it had to be attempted. Celeste's approach was to try to be non-judgemental and supportive. She knew her fiancé was both proud and sensitive – a tricky combination. She knew, too, that no one likes being criticised. But how to help him to examine his behaviour objectively? And how to help him to recall accurately and unemotionally what had taken place during lessons. Suddenly she remembered her great uncle's Pensieve.

Grudgingly Snape agreed to use a Pensieve, so she ordered one from Machiavelli's Magical Paraphernalia in Diagon Alley and it arrived a few days later. They then spent arduous evenings siphoning off his thoughts and analysing what took place. Progress was exceedingly slow at first, but it did exist. Celeste worked hard at getting Snape to view matters for himself and determine his own answers. She felt she was walking hand-in-hand with him along a difficult path, checking when he checked, encouraging him forward over hurdles, supporting him when he wanted to run back. At her insistence they worked in the Potions classroom so that at times they could re-enact incidents. She had to withstand frequent temperamental outbursts, of which Thursday's was typical…

"Oh, this is hopeless, Celeste!"

They were staring into the Pensieve, looking at Snape's memories of his last Potions class with the first year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. Celeste was encouraging him to study the words he used and how he stood and moved about the room.

"See here" she asked quietly, ignoring his angry roar. "See where you're standing beside Hazel d'Sousa. Well, she's small compared to you; you are very tall, and black, and leaning over her. I believe it's at that point that fear immobilises her. You're asking her a question here and expecting her to use logic to work out the answer. Study her face now. And what do you think of her posture compared to yours...? I would say she's become too frightened to think. Logic requires coolness, but she's gone into 'fight of flight' mode. She can't fight you obviously, and she's too sacred and obedient to run away, so her mind is in turmoil. Higher mental processes like logic are now impossible for her."

"So … what should I have done?" he asked irritably.

"How might you change how you stood?" Snape made some suggestions and Celeste nodded. "And this question here" she indicated gently, turning to a later incident.

"I suppose I snapped it at him" Snape said, sounding rather resentful. "I was angry that he hadn't been listening! I don't instruct them to provide myself with entertainment – I've go to drum it into their heads!"

This is a fair point, Celeste conceded – potion making is inherently dangerous; wrong mixtures are at best ineffective; but more frequently they are explosive or corrosive or poisonous. But Severus's style had fuelled an accelerating spiral of failure in Neville Longbottom, digging him deeper into a pit of ineptitude. I don't want anyone else to suffer that. I can't tell Severus that; he is, in his own way as capable of feeling pain as Neville is. He'll have to come to that realisation for himself. Over time. "Is it going into their heads as much as you want?" she asked. "Might you get more in with other tactics?"

It was a tedious process, and a painful one for Snape, but it was starting ever so slightly to pay off.

Snape had never been so busy. His dancing lessons took place in a disused Charms classroom. Flitwick was let into the secret and he produced an orchestra of charmed musical instruments to play for them. He also soundproofed the room. Snape was quite touched by these efforts on his behalf – he wasn't used to such kindness. He supposed it was mainly done as a favour to Celeste.

Hooch was not impressed with Snape's initial attempts at dancing. "For heaven's sake loosen up, Severus!" she scolded. "Just go with the music… Feel the beat… Let your self go… Ohrr, you're such a control freak, that's your trouble – you won't let go."

He made slow but dogged progress. Two nights later Black and Hooch went out for an evening drink with Snape and Celeste, as they needed to discuss wedding plans.

"We don't want to clash" Hooch said. "Is it right you're aiming for an August wedding?"

"Yes" Celeste said. "We think it will be Saturday the fourteenth. Uncle Albus says we can have the reception at Hogwarts."

"Yes, he offered us the same" Black said, "but we want to go somewhere hotter."

Black and Hooch's wedding was to take place on an island in the Seychelles. Most of it was owned by a wizard called Mesmerius Arrabin, and it was where Black and Buckbeak had spent their exile after their dramatic escape from Hogwarts in the days when Black was an escaped convict. Buckbeak still lived there, pottering happily around Arrabin's vast estate. Black and Hooch were arranging their wedding for July, and everyone from Hogwarts was invited.

"Harry and Remus will be coming" Black said to Snape. "I thought I ought to warn you."

"Yes. Thank you" Snape replied. "I shall still be pleased to attend."

Black looked at Snape in surprise. He seemed perfectly serious and sincere. If he didn't mean what he said, he had at least learned to be polite. He was a good deal less sarcastic these days.

"I was wondering what to do about a wedding list" Celeste said. "We are going to live in the dungeon rooms, at least to begin with. Severus has a lot of furniture, some of it in storage, so we really don't want to put people to the trouble and expense of a lot of presents."

"People will still want to give you gifts" Hooch pointed out. "When you have your own home you will need things for the kitchen, and linen. We've got a couple of catalogues we are going to use – I'll let you borrow them if you like. See if you want to do the same."

"OK. Great. Thank you" Celeste replied happily.

"Talking of kitchen things" Hooch added, "have you heard – the old Lilac Tea-Time tea rooms are opening again. Going to open on Whitsunday."

"Ooh, I'd like to have a look at it" Celeste said to Snape. "Shall we go, Severus?"

"Yes, very well" he said lightly. He smiled and added "If we must."

Whitsunday was a beautiful day and Celeste wore her daffodil yellow summer dress and hat for the afternoon trip to the tea rooms. The building had been completely refurbished and renamed – an elegant sign above the door proclaimed 'The Cup and Sorcerer' in a flowing script.

"Oh dear" Snape groaned as he read the sign, "this is going to be awfully twee."

He was amazed to find the tea shop was radically different to the former premises. Gone were the heavy Victorian furniture, potted palms and aspidistras. The main dining room was filled with round tables covered in small white lace cloths over longer peach drapery. Bowls of Anne Harkness rosebuds graced each table. The walls and ceiling were whitewashed between many dark oak beams. High Delft boards displayed an assortment of pretty plates, saucers and little teapots. The minimal furniture was of dark oak and the carpet plain beige. The whole effect was spotless and rather feminine.

Behind the main dining room was a large conservatory with white metal garden furniture – tables and chairs that looked like stiff lace doilies and clattered a little on the grey-blue terazzo floor. Trailing alpine strawberry plants hung from the white-ribbed glass ceiling. They were planted in greyish white planters; their tiny fruits like spots of blood among a froth of green leaves. The planters had a strangely ethereal look, giving the impression that the plants were growing out of the clouds. Celeste and Snape sat beneath the strawberry plants as a pretty waitress in peach and white lace livery hurried over to hand them a menu.

"Actually, this is rather gorgeous" Celeste said, as she removed her yellow, saucer-shaped hat and stowed it on a spare chair. "Someone has a great eye for colour."

They were surprised by the extensive range of teas and coffee on offer.

They ordered a pot of Darjeeling, homemade plain scones and preserves. The food and drink was excellent and the range of preserves – which also turned out to be homemade – impressive. The chinaware was a commercial Wedgwood design, and bore a simple pattern of entwined leaves, fruits and tendrils, worked in relief in the plain, off-white clay. As they ate and drank, they watched the bevy of pretty waitresses hurrying about. The tea room was busy. A trace of a suspicion crept into Snape's mind.

The proprietor emerged, beaming and pausing to exchange pleasantries with his customers. He wore saffron robes which complemented his lightly tanned complexion but clashed slightly with his coiffured brassy-gold curls. He was full of a superficial bonhomie and had a dazzling smile. He spotted Snape. "Oh no. I might have known" Snape groaned.

"Severus!" he cried. Hurrying over, he grabbed Snape's hand and pumped it vigorously. "Severus!. How are you, old man? And who is this? he drawled, turning appreciative eyes on Celeste."

"Lockhart!" Snape exclaimed coldly. His eyes flicked from Gilderoy Lockhart to Celeste and back again, and an unmistakable look of pride swept across his face as he added "Allow me to introduce my fiancée, Miss Celestine Lavelle. Celeste, this is Mr Lockhart. He once taught at Hogwarts. Many years ago."

"Miss Lavelle. Enchanting lady! Please, do call me Gilderoy" Lockhart gushed, kissing her hand "Your fiancée? Then may I congratulate you, madam, on such a – err – formidable choice of wizard." He gave the gloating Potions Master a swift, bitter glance; and then without a trace of embarrassment chatted affably for a few more moments, before sauntering on.

Celeste was quietly chuckling. "He was a teacher?" she hissed in disbelief, when Lockhart had moved some distance away.

"Well, teacher is not quite the word for it" Snape said sardonically. "Not one of your uncle's greatest appointments. In fact Lockhart spent a term of years in Azkaban for improper use of magic on countless unspecified persons, attempted improper use of magic on Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley and for intending to abandon Ginny Weasley to her fate in the Chamber of Secrets. I'll tell you all about him when we get home. It is mostly an amusing tale. And annoying, and downright infuriating in places too. Hmm, I always suspected he dyed his hair." Snape fell silent, thinking. "I wonder if Lockhart will be open on Valentine's Day" he mused. "If he is, I'll bring you here. It should be quite a sight. You think you're colour coordinated, Milady, but he's unbelievable!"

As the weeks went by Snape's dancing efforts improved.

"I think you ought to try it with Celeste, now" Hooch advised. "You can't leave it all to The Big Day – you ought to practice together."

She noticed that after an initial nervousness Snape danced very well with Celeste – entranced by her beauty, he swept her around the floor quite impressively. He's going to be OK, Hooch realised.

End of year exams were not as full as they should have been, as the plague had prevented coverage of some of the syllabus. But where the students were tested less extensively, they were tested more intensively, so they still had to revise very thoroughly. The Potions results were ever so slightly better than in past years.

Marius Findlayter attended the Leaving Feast in order to present the plaque to the school. After a minute's silence in memory of the victims, the students that had helped in the fight against the disease were called forward to shake the Minister's hand and one of them, pre-selected at random, received the plaque on behalf of the school.

Because of the disruption due to the sickness and the curtailment of normal Potions lessons with Snape, the final house point results were the strangest ever – Hufflepuff won the House Cup with 273 points, Gryffindor came second with 262, Slytherin third with 247 and Ravenclaw fourth with 241. The Quidditch Cup could not, of course, be awarded. McGonagall insisted the house point scores proved that the pupils were normally quite evenly balanced – it was the 'Snape factor' that usually distorted the results!